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Posted in Church God Faith
 Look at this picture and tell me what you see. I know, you see 4 of the cutest kids in the whole history of cute kids. Me, too. But I see something different. I see missionaries-in-training. This was taken in July, 2003, during our first family mission trip. Macy is 4 months old.; Sydney is 21 months old; Reed is just shy of her 5th birthday-- she will celebrate it along with our pastor at the end of the week; and Spenser is 8. We went, along with our church youth and a few other adults (including the senior pastor who shares Reed's birthday,) to Kentucky-- part of our Association's 5 year partnership with that area. We went for the next 3 years (except the year Reed had meningitis-- only Spenser and Jason went that year.) Last year our Association partnered with Ocean Springs MS and we went there, along with our 4 young missionary apprentices. They absolutely love it, and I love the idea that we can do missions as a family, and that my kids will grow up thinking that missions is just as natural as summertime; it's just what you do. Why, then am I ranting and raving? We are planning a trip back to MS July 8-13 and just today found out that preschoolers are not welcome on this trip with our association. They feel that they distract mom and dad from their work. So that means Macy can't go (the cutoff is frist grade and Sydney can make it in as a homeschooler. If she were in ps, no such luck.) And therefore I can't go. (In which case I will keep Sydney home with me.) I am so angry and hurt by this that I can't sleep, so naturally I thought I would blog. This decision was made by a group of well-meaning people who just don't have a clue. I mean, we are sending a couple of hundred people to Ocean Springs to do construction, surveys, Backyard Bible clubs and acts of kindness, as well as a block party at the end of the week. So maybe Sydney and Macy can't swing a hammer, but why in the world couldn't they be in the Backyard Bible Club? Or hand out water bottles. Or visit the nursing homes. Maybe it would diminish my capabilities slightly if they were tired or cranky or, you know, preschoolers, but I don't think our service to the community would be diminished overall. What gives THEM (whoever them is) the right to decide whethere or not a mom can be a missionary.? Don't missionaries all over the world have kids? Is this a new requirement I am not aware of? Is God only calling the single or childless into the mission field? Please someone give me some insight into this, because I am fuming! I am going to try to go to sleep now, and hopefully God will give me peace about this. Maybe this is from Him and I am missing something. Pray that I will have the wisdom to understand this and the grace to accept it. |
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